Interview with Alumnus of Zakir Hussain Engineering College, Misbah Ul Islam

Misbah Ul Islam is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Mewat Engg. College (Waqf) Haryana. He worked in several companies and organisations like worked as Sr. Section Engineer-Indian Railways, Project Engineer-DLF, selected in Various PSUs like IRCON, NHPC, UK-JALNIGAM etc, also ONGC. Misbah founded an NGO for environmental causes During Masters named as ENVIRONSENSE. He authored and Co authored more than 10 research papers published in various international journals pertaining to water & waste water treatment and sustainable environmental solutions.

Yasir Arafat Turk: How and when you joined Zakir Hussain college of AMU? Why You preferred Only Zakir Hussain College?

Misbah Ul Islam: I joined ZHCET in 2004 in B.E.(Civil). I did my Diploma In Engineering in 2004 from University Polytechnic AMU only. In fact it was my dream to have a Bachelor degree from AMU. Those days getting into engineering was not as easy as today. We have a mushrooming of private engineering colleges now a days. It was a rare thing those days especially civil.Dreaming about IITJEE was only a dream for a person like me from mediocre and semi rural West UP background. During four weeks in between my Diploma Engg. Final year exams and B.E. entrance I studied like its now or never and Alhamdulillah I got in.

Yasir Arafat Turk: What is the difference between the cultural values of College in your times and Now?

Misbah Ul Islam: Its well observed, everywhere cultural values are degrading. But it pokes when we talk about its degradation in AMU; a place which was once an oracle of Culture.

Naye Andaaz Paye Naujawano Ki Tabiyat Ne.

Ye Ranai, Ye Bedaari, Ye Azaadi, Ye Bebaaki.

Once what we call imprudence is now called boldness. In our times, especially when I was in Diploma In Engg. we used to avoid sitting on Dhabas before our seniors and even no one could thought of smoking in presence of seniors, but now its a matter of equality. I wouldn't comment on the status of women,its a matter of their empowerment and their equal status. Obviously,,,, why boys have all the fun. Before commenting on them males need self censorship and reforms.
Yasir Arafat Turk: What are possibilities of Jobs for the students in future? Why do we lack in placements?

Misbah Ul Islam: When we talk about jobs we must admit that we are in phase of over production of engineers. Its well versed that its the demand-supply relation which decides the market value. Obviously its a matter of concern. But at the same time good news for Aligs is that the percentage of skilled technocrats is still low. But in this scenario of plenty of engineers one need to prove himself different, outstanding and standing off the crowd.

Our guys are technically sound and Public Sector Enterprises like NTPC, GAIL, ONGC, IOCL, HPCL, EIL etc. could be safe heaven and a soft target. Engineering Services is also good option for hard-working and patient buddy. Many of our seniors and even juniors are excelling in all these segments.

For those who are interested in higher studies IITs/NITs are the best options. They offer admissions in Masters and direct PhD. program. From there as well one can get into the R&D consultancy works and academics. All you need is a good GATE score.

IITs even have student exchange program in which they give chance to complete one semester (generally final semester) in some European countries like Germany, France etc to their meritorious students. This can be a silk route for the middle class guys to study abroad as the expense are borne by the government.

If you talk about placements the system is not keen and so the guys, Small polytechnics of Delhi NCR get good placement even excellent. They get into the companies of which our guys even haven't heard the names. Some people blame Aligarh's location for this,some say that we can't do black & white like private colleges. But In my view somewhere we deny the truth in such blame game.

I got campus placement in DLF-Laing'O Rourke (a joint venture of India's DLF and UK based Construction Giant Laing'O Rourke). I met there guys from many NITs and what I found there, we Aliagrians were among the most technically sound guys. Our students have lots of potential. They are no inferior to any NITian but what we lack is confidence and exposure. I have assessed students' potential during my student life as well as during the period I worked as a Guest Faculty in Department of Civil Engineering AMU.

Yasir Arafat Turk: What are the best ways to get higher education from abroad?

Misbah Ul Islam: If its a question of higher education from abroad,the most important is to get funding i.e. Scholarships etc. I am highlighting it because most of the guys here in AMU are from middle class.

There are various scholarships of Government of India and of the government of the country you are seeking admission into.It varies broadly from full free-ship to exemption of tuition fee to the percentage vaving off in tuition fee. I can provide information about Germany as i have personally delved into.

Here are some useful links of Germany

http://www.daad.de

http://www.phdgermany.de/

http://www.funding-guide.de/

http://www.research-explorer.de/

http://www.university-ranking.de/

GRE, IELTS, TOEFL is admission/visa requirement and varies from Institute to Institute and country to country.
Yasir Arafat Turk: How do you find Zakir Hussain College in comparison to IITs? What are the possibilities to get admission in IITs after bachelors and masters?

Misbah Ul Islam: If you ask a comparison its not a tough question. Certainly IITs have no comparison and for that there are obvious reasons like their funding & facilities, admission procedure etc. But at the same time AMU is in no comparison zone for other Institutes. Like NITs.

Our students are doing well in IITs/IISc in PG and research. some of the alumni I personally know occupied faculty position after doing PG from IITs. If someone wants to get admission in IITs/IISc after Bachelor/Masters from AMU, GATE should be cleared. In some specific courses CEED(for Designing courses), JMET(for MBA from IITs) etc are also being conducted. And i have already told that from IITs there is a way which goes to Europe.

Yasir Arafat Turk: When the students must start preparing for Government Jobs of India and what are the best ways to prepare the exam in Aligarh?

Misbah Ul Islam: A student must start preparing for competitions like GATE, Engineering Services, RRBs etc. right from the semester when we start learning our core subjects. Like for civil engineering its from third semester. Every exam needs some of the percentage of questions which are very basic and can be easily answered if one has a clear view of basics of every subject. It makes the difference and this difference leads to finally cracking the test. It is well known that preparing the basics is a very long term and consistent procedure. It can be achieved through semester wise compaction of basic's knowledge. For specific brushing up, the old test papers analysis is the best approach. On the basis of analysis is that one should know which portion needs attention and up to what extent. This pattern varies from exam to exam. I wouldn't recommend any coaching Institute but their study material can be proved helpful in terms that they have already done papers' analysis and already worked the extent of studying a particular subject for a particular exam.

Yasir Arafat Turk: Your suggestions and advices to your juniors.

Misbah Ul Islam: I would like to advise my juniors that you must be technically sound as you are engineers. You must be culturally groomed as you are Alig . You must be practising well in your religion as you are attached to a Muslim University.You must have character of integrity. Also try to be connected with literature and languages of India esp. Urdu as you are expected to have a good command over it. I personally encountered these expectations in many interviews. And remember Sir Syed Ahmad Khan said "of all the ailments of heart, the most injurious is fondness of flattery"

Thank You.